Since the August 9th killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer by the name of Darren Wilson, protests in Ferguson, Missouri have become commonplace. Thousands have participated in these protests, and many have voiced their opinions about what needs to happen for so-called “real change” to take place.
Not surprisingly, blacks and whites generally tend to have a different take on racism, the fairness of the criminal justice system, and what, if anything can and should be done. And both black and white residents of Ferguson find it difficult to really listen to other perspectives and acknowledge the existence of multiple realities. In this regard, they are much like the rest of us.
James Knowles, the Mayor of Ferguson, continues to believe that Ferguson does not have a race problem. He adds, “I keep a lot of African-American friends – some of my dearest friends—but when we hang out at the brew house, we don’t talk about these issues. A lot of residents are going, Damn, I never realized my friends felt that way or had these experiences.”
In different areas of town, residents have signs outside of their homes. In some areas, there is a preponderance of “I Love Ferguson” signs. In other neighborhoods, “Hands Up! Don’t Shoot” signs dot the lawns. For many white residents, they are grappling with entrenched anger and divisiveness that seems new and unfounded. Many black residents are growing increasingly tired of neighbors who claim to be colorblind and attribute what is taking place in Ferguson to a few “bad apples.” And yet, consider how many residents, including elected officials and the police force, are really talking about these issues in casual conversation, in brew houses, barber shops, and take-out stores?
Discussing issues of race, gender, and class is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. To paraphrase Dr. Cornel West, talking about race in any meaningful way is taboo. Factor in economic, educational, religious, and political differences and the challenge becomes that much more difficult. One effective way to address this challenge is to “step outside of ourselves.” This area of developing diversity consciousness is absolutely crucial to any fruitful discussion among individuals and within communities, in Ferguson and elsewhere. It requires us to step outside of our skin, our signs, our comfort zones, and our daily regimen and then spend some time in other worlds, histories, cultures, and individuals. To do this may very well mean suspending judgment of people and situations that may initially seem foreign or even ludicrous to us. The task is not easy, but real change rarely is.